1 And it happened that when Jesus had finished giving orders to his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and to preach in their towns. 2Now when#﻿*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal John#That is, John the Baptist heard in prison the deeds of Christ, he sent word#﻿*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation by his disciples 3and#﻿*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“sent” in the previous verse) has been translated as a finite verb said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 4And Jesus answered and#﻿*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said to them, “Go and#﻿*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“go”) has been translated as a finite verb tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and the poor have good news announced to them.#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation6And whoever is not offended by me is blessed.”

7Now as#﻿*Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were going away”) these were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in the houses of kings. 9But why did you go out? To see a prophet?#Some manuscripts have “But what did you go out to see? A prophet?” Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! 10It is this man about whom it is written:

‘Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way before you.’#A quotation from Mal 3:1; cf. Mark 1:2

11Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen one greater than John the Baptist. But the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12But from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven is treated violently, and the violent claim#Or “seize” it. 13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John, 14and if you are willing to accept it,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation he is Elijah, the one who is going to come. 15The one who has ears, let him hear!

16“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to one another, 17saying,

‘We played the flute for you and you did not dance;

we sang a lament and you did not mourn.’

18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a man who is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”#Many Greek manuscripts, including most later ones, read “children”

Woes Pronounced on Unrepentant Towns

20Then he began to reproach the towns in which the majority of his miracles had been done, because they did not repent: 21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22Nevertheless I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and for Sidon on the day of judgment than for you! 23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today. 24Nevertheless I tell you that it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you!”

A Yoke That Is Easy

25At that time Jesus answered and#﻿*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to young children.#Or perhaps “to the childlike,” or “to the innocent”26Yes, Father, for to do so was your gracious will.#Literally “was pleasing before you”27All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom#Literally “to whomever” the Son wants to reveal him.#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation28Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke on you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy to carry and my burden is light.”